Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre season features more than just opera and musical theater

It opened Thursday with The Barber of Seville and before the 26th anniversary year for the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre ends there will be other productions along with concerts, classes, lectures and special events.

Founding General Director Michael Ballam says the productions will be presented in repertory with full orchestra, which is a rarity in the United States.

“We have 136 events,” says Ballam, “between the opening night to the closing night: classes, lectures, on-site, one-on-one opportunities for people to go down into the orchestra pit, visit the costume shop and see the costumes being made.

“It’s a delightful summer. It also happens to be Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday. We are going to do a tribute concert to him, music from West Side Story.”

Tribute to Leonard Bernstein will take place Wednesday, July 25th in the Ellen Eccles Theatre and will feature songs from Candide, West Side Story, On the Town and more. The 2018 season productions will be presented in the Ellen Eccles Theatre and the restored Utah Theatre. Ballam, himself, will star in the 2015 Broadway musical masterpiece Amazing Grace.

Tickets are available online at www.utahfestival.org, by calling (435) 750-0300 or in person at the Dansante Building.